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About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote advises not to resist evil nor partake in violent institutions, promising that no one can enslave you.
In plain terms
Avoid resisting evil and any violent role; then you stay free.
What can you take from it?
Stay disengaged from violent systems to preserve autonomy.

Where it applies

  • civil disobedience
  • ethical career choices
  • tax resistance

Putting it to work

  • refuse violent jobs
  • avoid supporting oppressive laws

Questions to consider

  • Is total non‑participation feasible?
  • What are the costs of such a stance?

Another view

Complete disengagement may be impractical.

More from Leo Tolstoy

  1. As soon as men live entirely in accord with the law of love ...which excludes all resistance by violence, and therefore hold aloof from all participation in vi…

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  2. What is now happening to the people of the East as of the West is like what happens to every individual when he passes from childhood to adolescence and from y…

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  3. If the people of India are enslaved by violence it is only because they themselves live and have lived by violence, and do not recognize the eternal law of lov…

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